Curcuma plant named ‘Curzena’

ABSTRACT

A new  curcuma  plant particularly distinguished by dark-pink flowers with red tips and green leaves with red veins is disclosed.

Genus and species: Curcuma alismatifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘Curzena’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of curcuma, botanically known as Curcuma alismatifolia, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Curzena’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in June 2002 in De Lier, The Netherlands. The female parent was the proprietary curcuma plant ‘1995720’ (unpatented), while the male parent was the proprietary curcuma plant ‘1998154-01’ (unpatented).

The new cultivar was created in 2003 and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by in vitro propagation by shoot micropropagation (axillary bud) in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and De Lier, The Netherlands over a two-year period. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied with the European Union on Aug. 10, 2004.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in De Lier, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) Dark pink flowers with red tips; and     -   2) Green leaves that contain red veins.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new curcuma plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including bloom, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 140-day old plant grown in a greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows the mature flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Curzena’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in De Lier, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 140-day old plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 14-cm pots in 2005 and grown in a glass greenhouse between 19° C. and 28° C. Observations were made in the spring. Color readings were taken under natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Zingiberaceae.         -   Botanical.—Curcuma alismatifolia.         -   Common name.—Hidden Lily. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘1995720’, a proprietary pink-flowered             curcuma plant (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘1998154-01’, a proprietary purpled-flowered             curcuma plant (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation by shoot micropropagation             (axillary bud).         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—10 days.         -   Root description.—RHS 155D, moderately free branching,             non-fibrous, slightly fleshy.         -   Average number of rhizomes (per plant).—11.         -   Rhizome diameter.—0.5 cm. -   Plant:     -   -   Form/growth.—Rhizotomatous herbaceous perennial, shoots grow             from the base.         -   Habit.—Broad, upright.         -   Height (measured from the soil).—48.5 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—47.9 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—15-weeks for a             10 cm to 15-cm pot.         -   Keeping quality.—31 days. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Lorate.         -   Size.—Length (fully expanded): 44.7 cm. Width: 3.7 cm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Sheathing, winged; average length of wing is 9.4 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright to arching.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 137B to             RHS 137C; base is RHS 183A to RHS 187A (greyed-purple).         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Venation.—Type: Parallel. Color: Main vein: RHS 183A to RHS             187A. Secondary veins: Same as leaf surface. Upper surface:             RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 137B to RHS 137C; base is RHS             183A to RHS 187A (greyed-purple). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Spring.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—3 days.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Inflorescence type.—Raceme.         -   Arrangement.—Terminal racemes grow from the centers of the             shoots.         -   Size.—Length: 14.2 cm. Diameter: 6.9 cm. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowers.—Size: Length: 2.5 cm. Width: 1.5 cm. Shape:             Irregular corolla consisting of three petals, one of which             is conspicuous and colorful, flanked by a smaller petal on             each side; opposite the large petal is a small labellum             consisting of two fused stamen. Color: Upper petal: Upper             surface: RHS 83A to RHS 86A while the base is slightly             lighter. Lower surface: RHS 86A to RHS 86B while the base is             lighter. Lateral and lower petals: Upper surface: RHS 155B;             the tip is RHS 85C to RHS 85D. Lower surface: RHS 155B; the             tip is RHS 85D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: 14. Shape: Upper bracts: Ovate.             Lower bracts: Orbicular. Apex: Rounded. Base: Fused. Margin:             Entire. Texture: Smooth, glossy. Size: Length: 5.5 cm; the             lower bracts are 4.0 cm. Width: 3.6 cm. Color: Upper             surface: RHS 72B; the tip and base are slightly tinged with             RHS 148A (yellow-green); the lower bracts are RHS 183B to             RHS 184B with an RHS 146C to RHS 146D (yellow-green) base.             Lower surface: RHS 72B; the tip and base are slightly tinged             with RHS 148A (yellow-green); the lower bracts are RHS 146C             and tinged at the tip with RHS 184B.         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 137B. Length: 26.7 cm. Diameter:             0.4 cm. Texture: Smooth, rounded, slightly glossy. Angle:             Vertical (90°). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 2, petaloid, fertile. Filament: Length:             1.3 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Color: RHS 85D the tips are             darker, RHS 85A. Anther color: RHS 155D. Pollen: Absent.         -   Pistil.—Quantity: 1. Length: 1.8 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 1.7 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm. Color: RHS N155A.         -   Stigma.—Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm. Color: RHS N155A. -   Fruit and seed set: Seed production has not been observed to date. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date. Similar to     other curcuma varieties.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Curzena’ differs from the female parent ‘1995720’ (unpatented), by having dark-pink flowers with red tips and green leaves with red veins, while ‘1995720’ has pink flowers with green tips and green leaves with no distinct veins.

‘Curzena’ differs from the male parent ‘1998154-01’ (unpatented), by having dark-pink flowers, while ‘1998154-01’ has purple flowers.

‘Curzena’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Curleno’ (unpatented), by having pink flowers and green leaves with red veins, while ‘Curleno’ has pink-white flowers and green leaves with no veins. In addition, ‘Curzena’ has a long flower stem, while ‘Curleno’ has a medium flower stem. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of curcuma plant as shown and described herein. 